Curriculum
Manual Handling Awareness Training
Module 1 Learning Outcomes
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Module 2 Learning Outcomes
0/2
Module 3 Learning Outcome
0/3
Module 4 Learning Outcomes
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Manual Handling Assessment
0/2
Intro and Case Studies
Why you need to know about manual handling?
According to the health and safety executive (HSE) in a recent year, approximately 120 000 people were injured at work from manual handling incidents.
8.9 Million working days were also lost due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
The number of injuries that result from Manual handling activities could be reduced if people recognise the dangers and take appropriate action.
Did you Know?
- Lower back pain affects approximately 80% of the population at some stage in their lives
- The Health & Safety Authority state that approximately one third of all injuries reported arise from manual handling
- These injuries often lead to chronic illness and disability
- A number of factors contribute to back pain, including poor posture, incorrect lifting techniques, repetitious lifting work and frequent bending, twisting, lifting and pulling
- Manual handling training teaches us the importance of using the correct techniques
- As very small children we all naturally lift correctly and without risk of injury
- All incorrect lifting techniques are bad habits that we develop in later life
- Manual handling training is required in the workplace by law
Case Study:
Over a three-year period, the health and safety Executive (HSE) received six reports of workers who had injured their backs and been off work for more than seven days while working for an organisation that manufactured car engine parts.
One worker was in hospital for seven days and off work for more than nine days. More workers suffered back problems but their injuries were not reported to the HSE.
The HSE found that workers on two production lines were expected to manually lift engine components weighing between 14 and 21kgs, Hundreds of times during a shift. Mechanical lifting aids were either not provided, not suitable, or no training had been received by workers in how to operate them. There were also no suitable or sufficient manual handling assessments in place for the tasks involved.
The organisation admitted breaching regulation 4(1)1) (b) of the manual handling operations regulations 1992. It was fined £183,340 and ordered to pay £21,277.10 costs.
Recognising the risk that manual handling presents and taking appropriate action will help you to avoid injuries caused by manual handling.
